“Law-abiding citizens are NOT the issue! Millions of New Yorkers own firearms and do so safely, responsibly and legally. The real issue, the real threat, is dangerous criminals having guns and the seriously mentally ill obtaining access to guns,” the petition reads. “Monday’s vote was only the beginning, not the end, of a critically important debate. I believe we must repeal and replace the restrictive parts of the enacted legislation. We should focus on increasing penalties for criminals who use firearms and addressing the issue of mental illness. However, I cannot do it alone: I need strong Second Amendment supporters like you to stand strong – and stand with me.”

The petition went online just before 11 a.m. Tuesday. Marchione told me by phone that she couldn’t quantify how many of the signatures came from within the state. She’d already delineated what to repeal and replace: she called for legislators to split the omnibus gun bill into parts on Monday evening before the Senate considered it.

“When I became a senator and I was campaigning, I said to the constituents in the district that I would be their voice and their vote,” Marchione said. “I’m only one person, but I will do the best I can do. I don’t believe our constituents had an opportunity to be heard before this vote.”